Berta, Wings, Carlie And Others, Please Read And Make Suggestions

[Guest Vietnam Tanker]

I have been trying to find an after action report or any other reports like lessons Learned etc. from the Vietnam War. My attention span is really short and I can't remember what I am looking for or how to find it if it even exsists anymore. I was shot in the head on a convoy escort up highway 1 in the area between Trang Bang and Tay Ninh in december of 1968. I was awarded a PH for that wound. I have gone to the old units web site and posted a message looking for anyone who would remember this incident to no avail. I was assigned as the Tank Platoon Sgt for A company 2/34th Armor, 3d platoon, 25th Inf Div. out of Cu Chi in Nam.do not know what other information would help. Please feel free to contact me.

Edited October 3, 2008 by Vietnam Tanker

[Berta]

Is it signed?

[Guest Vietnam Tanker]

Berta, Yes it is signed with a mechanically reproduced signature of a Bird Col.

[Berta]

Have you googled him John-

2 of my professors (maybe more then that)were Army Colonels at AMU whoserved in Vietnam and remembered stuff like it was yesterday-

In a thesis work up- prior to submission-in my student file-I invertently called Route One , the HCM trail-what a mistake and the prof caught it right away-

and emailed me-he knew exactly what I was describing on Route 1 because he had been there at time of what I had decribed in the thesis-Colonel-Army Vietnam-

my point is this Colonel could possible remember the incident (the morning reports or Lessons Learned should possibly have it too and if not he could probably direct you better as to where to get it-if you could reach him)

Research like this takes time- I had a vet who needed to prove he was injured at Hue-

I have lots of old Vietnam Magazines and had recently done a thesis on Hue-using one Vietnam Mag story as a reference.

I scanned and emailed him the photos in Vietnam Mag on the Hue story they did- and he was thrilled because he was injured and visible in one of the photos-

I dont have the time at all to do stuff like that any more but the internet sure has made research easy-

still nothing better than directly writing to the US Army Historic places and looking for clues even in BVA decisions-

and unit web sites-

it takes time and work but these things can be searched for and found.

I just got an email from my oldest friend- we went to kindergarten together- she had sent me something political going around the web from some university professor- it was awful-about one of the candidates-

but-

it took me one click at google to find this was already determined to be a scam-

my point is the internet has truly made research easier than ever for us-

we can find some stuff in seconds, other stuff might take days, even years- but this is how persistence can pay off.

Edited October 3, 2008 by Berta

[Guest Vietnam Tanker]

Berta,

Thanks for the info and pep talk. My problem is I will have to hire someone to do the research for me as I am not that computer savy and with the short term memory problems I tend to get lost real easy on web sites.

I have however, found a copy of my DA Form 20 and right there in block 40 under wounds it is clearly stated FW: Right arm (In realaty it was my left wrist with shrapnel from a hand grenade) second line states FW: Head and right shoulder. (the right shoulder has been denied several times citing that my SMR's are quiet on the issue") The VA has had this information all along and never considered it at all, because the medical records do not state it, well all medical records in Nam did not make it to the individual SMR's on many occassions. Hmmmmm what shall I do? The DA Form 20 lists both the head and the shoulder.

I am thinking of getting one of the for hire archivists listed at the archives site to do the research for me, it should cost around $200. I will have him look for unit morning reports, unit roosters, after action reports, lessons learned and/or anything else that may help my claim. does anyone have any suggestions about any other documents or sources that might be helpful. I would also like to get copies of my mental health records from Fort Knox, KY and Fort Bliss, TX any ideas?

Edited October 3, 2008 by Vietnam Tanker